Bee a Reader: Participate in Summer Reading with Your Baby

Even though the ability to read is a few years off, your baby is capable of grasping reading skills right now. Make sure to mark the milestones as your 0- to 1-year-and-6-month-old takes his or her first steps to becoming a reader. Participation in our summer Bee a Reader program sets the foundation for becoming a lifelong reader.

We know you moms and dads are busy, so we’ve made it easy to participate with an online program at summerfest.tscpl.org and we will provide buzz-worthy reading prizes to encourage early literacy skills.

6 Reasons to Sign Your Pre-reader Up for Summer Reading

If your child hasn’t gotten a library card, this will be your first step. Come in and fill out a Read With Me library card application and get a free t-shirt for baby. Already have a library card for you our your child? Skip to step 2.

Surf over to summerfest.tscpl.org to sign your tot up for summer reading. There you may download a Bee a Reader reading tracker (also available at the library) to get on your way to raising a reader.

On the tracker, you’ll see that we’ve come up with some fun and easy ways to build reading skills – such as how to hold a book properly and even how to clap to a beat. By accomplishing items on the tracker, you are taking baby steps toward literacy.

As your child reaches certain milestones, bring him to the library to get his prizes, including his own book to keep and a canvas tote to carry it in – plus a chance at the grand prize, a handmade baby blanket.

Moving beyond summer, register for library programs that set the stage for developing a love of reading later in life. Regular programs like our educational and interactive storytimes are, for many, the gateway to becoming a reader for life. Programs like Baby Bookworms build skills to help your child get ready to attend school. See page 13 for kids’ programs. We also hold annual special storytimes to observe occasions like April’s Week of the Young Child and November’s Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week.

Parents can research their own raising-a-reader activities. Check out books, DVDs and magazines, like Jackie Silberg‘s Baby Smarts: Games for Playing and Learning and 125 Brain Games for Toddlers and Twos and Johnson and Johnson’s Your Baby From 6 to 12 Months. You will find the Parenting collection in the Kids Library – just ask for a tour!

3 Buzz-worthy Prizes

Achieve 10 literacy skills and receive a booklet of rhymes

Achieve another 10 literacy skills and receive the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear

At the conclusion of 30 activities or skills you earn a Bee a Reader tote bag

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A public relations professional, editor and writer, Lisa shares the library story in her blog posts, in the bimonthly Library News, and media interviews. A self-described social media and news nut, Lisa harnesses that passion to raise awareness and understanding of the library's vital role in this community.